Tom ushimbanga mukeke wa makonde abuzwize.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom uyanga kwa musika kuyolekisa makonde.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Batu kwa musika balekanga litolwana.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Kono hakuna yalekanga makonde a Tom. Balata kuleka litolwana kwa basali.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
“Mwa silalanda saluna, ki basali feela baba lekisanga litolwana,” batu babulela. “Ki muuna ya cwañi yo?” batu babuza.
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
Kono Tom azwafi. Wa huweleza, “Hamuleke makonde aka! Hamuleke makonde aka abuzwize mi amunati!”
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
Musali yomuñwi ananula sikocela sa makonde mwa mukeke. Hatalimisisa makonde katokomelo.
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
Musali yoo aleka makonde.
The woman buys the bananas.
Batu babañata bataha fa sintolo. Baleka makonde a Tom ni kuaca.
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
Kanako nyana, fa mukeke kufela. Tom wabala masheleñi a fumani.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Cwale Tom waleka mulola, swikili, mi sinkwa. Lika ze alibeya mwa mukeke wahae.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tom watengenya mukeke wahae fa toho anze aya kwandu.
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
SiLozi (Zambia)
Level 2
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